Shock absorbing mechanism



Dec. 12, 1933. G w. WILDIN 1,938,881

SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Filed June 27, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORGEORGE W.WILDIN ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES SHOCKABSORBIN G MECHANISM George w. Wildin, Pittsburgh, Pa. assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Cal-dwell Westinghouse- Company, Chicago, 111., acorporation of Dela- Ware Application June 27, 1929. Serial No. 374,007

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in shock absorbing mechanisms ofthe type especially adapted for use in draft riggings for railwayrolling stock and particularly to that type comprising a casingcontaining spring means and a plunger or friction wedge means fortransmitting shocks to the spring means.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a shock absorbingmechanism, of the above type, with novel and efiicient means formaintaining the plunger assembled with the other parts of the mechanism.7

A further object of my invention is to provide the central wedge blockof a friction shock absorbing mechanism with key means which may beprojected into positions to maintain the wedge block assembled with thecasing and shall be held in operative position by one of the elements ofthe-shock absorbing mechanism. I

Other objects and advantageswill appear in .the following more detaileddescription of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 ma horizontal longitudinalsectional viewof a railway draft rigging embodying my invention; Fig. 2is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the shock absorbingmechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevational View of the central wedge blockwith the locking key members mounted and locked therein in theirmaintaining positions; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken. on the line 4-4of Fig. 2 showing only portions of the wedge block and the topand'bottom walls of the casing and'also showing the key members; Fig. 5is a sectional view like Fig. 4,

except that the, key members are shown contracted to permit theapplication or removal of thewedge block to and from the casing; Fig. 6

is a sectional view through a wedge block embodying a modification ofmyinvention and Fig.

7 is'a like view through a wedge block embodying a further modificationof the invention. A

In the drawings, the reference character 1 in dicates the usual spacedcenter or draft sills of a g5 railway. car underframe, to whicharesecur'ed the usual front stop lugs 2 and rearstop lugs 3..

The reference character 4 indicates the inner end of the drawbar, towhich, the usual draft yoke 5 is operatively connected. I V

Disposed Within the yoke 5, is my improved friction shock absorbingmechanism and a front follower plate 6, all of which are supported inthe usual manner by a plate '7, detachably secured to plate engages thefront stop-lugs 2 and the rear the sills 1, in such'a manner, that thefollower 'wedging mechanism, the plates 11 being anchored to the casing,and the plates 12 being movable relative to the plates 11 under bufiingand pulling impacts.

Theforward end portions of the top and bottom walls '9 of the casing areprovided with thickened portions 14, which form shoulders 15 7Qinteriorly of the casing, with which shoulders,

lugs projecting from the top and bottom edges of the plates 11, engage,thus anchoring these plates against outward movement relative to thecasing, inward movement of the plates being 75. stopped by theirengagement with shoulders 17 on the walls 9.

' The wedging mechanism comprises longitudinally disposed Wedge blocks18 and 19, having opposed wedging faces adapted to engage correspondingwedging faces of wedge blocks or shoes 20, disposed at opposite sides ofthe wedge blocks 18 and 19. g

The wedge'block 18 comprises a forward wedging portion 21adapted toreceive bufling and pull- 85, ing impacts, and extending rearwardlytherefrom, are top and bottom horizontally disposed flanges 22 and 23,respectively, which are connected together by centrally arrangedvertically disposed webs 24 and 25 spaced apart longitudinally of thewedge block. 1

Disposed vertically in the space between the webs 24 and 25 of the wedgeblock, are aligned locking key members 26 and 27, having their re.-spective outer ends 28 and 29 extending through openings in the flanges22 and 23 respectively, of the wedge block, into locking engagement ,orin such positions that they are adapted to lock with-the shoulders 15 onthe top and bottom walls of the casing. The inner ends of these key mem-1 00 bers abut each other, and are provided with rearwardly extendinglugs 30 r and 31 respectively which are adapted to respectively engageshoulders 32 and 33 formed-on the web 25 to prevent unintentionalmovement of the members in the 19 directions of their lengths. 1

Contained in thecasing'are springs 34, 35 and 36, the springs 34actingon the movable plates 12, and wedge block 19 through the medium ofa spring plate 37, and the'springs 35 and 36 acting 1 on the wedge block18, through the medium of a spring plate 52, a follower member 38 and alocking member 39. The follower member 38 extends through openings inthe spring plate 37, and wedge block 19, and at its forward end isprovided with an extension 40 which extends through a central bore inthe. locking member 39 into engagement with the rear edge of the web 25within a recess 41, and thus'maintains the locking member againstvertical movement relative to the web 25.

The locking member 39 engages the rear edge of the web 25 and hasforwardly extending spaced lugs 42 which overlap both sides of the web25 and the inner ends of the locking key members 26 and 2'7 and theselugs lock the members 26 and 27 so that they cannot accidentally moveout of alignment as will hereinafter more fully appear. v 1

To assemble my friction shock absorbing mechanism, the casing may beplaced'in a vertical position with the open end directed upwardly, inwhich the springs 34, 35 and 36, spring plates 52 and 37,. followermember 38, wedge block 19 and locking member 39 are positioned in thecasing, through the open end thereof, in the order named. The springsare now temporarily compressed and held compressed by pins or the like,which may be passed through openings 50, formed in the top and bottomwalls of the easing, into engagement with the upper side of the springplate 37.

While the springs are thusmaintained compressed, the wedge block 18 isinserted in the easing, but, before the inner edge of the web 25 ispermitted to seat on the locking member 39 and projection 41, the endsof the locking key members 26 and 27 are inserted in their respectiveopenings in the flanges 22 and 23 ofthe wedge block, as shown in Fig. 5of the drawings, and then moved in the directions. of their lengthstoward the casing until their inner ends are in such positions thatthelugs 30 and 31 engage the shoulders 32 and 33 respectively, on the.web 25.

The inner ends of the key members are now moved toward each other indirections transversely of the web 25, until they are in verticalalignment with each other. These key members are preferably of the samethickness as the thickness of the webs 24 and 25, and after they arealigned as .just described, the wedge block, to-

gether with the positioned key members, is lowered to its'seatedposition on thelocking. member 39, in. which position, the lugs 42 ofthe locking members overlap both sides of the web 25 of the wedge blockand both sides of the inner ends of the key members, thus locking saidinner ends against accidental movement in directions transversely of theweb 25.

It will be noted that, when the key members arealigned, the inner endsof the members are adapted toengage each other and the lugs 30 and 31are adapted to engage the shoulders 32 and 33 respectively of the web 25thus maintaining the key members against accidental movement in thedirections of their lengths, either toward or away from the casing.

To facilitate the application and removal of the key members,.thedimensions of the openings in the flanges 22 and 23 areslightly greaterthan the dimensions of the outer ends of the key fmembers, and the outerend of eachkey member is provided with a curvedsurfacev 51 to preventthe binding of the ends ofthe members against the wedge block when the.members are moved,

relative to the wedge block, to or from their maintaining or lookingpositions.

The wedge blocks or shoes 20, and plates 11 and 12 are now positioned inthe forward end portion of the casing, after which, the temporary pinsmay be removed from the casing, permitting the pressure of the springsto move the friction mechanism as a whole forward relative to the casinguntil such movement is brought to a stop by the outer ends of the keymembers engaging the casing shoulders 15. With the friction elementsthus maintained in their assembled positions, the pressure of thesprings 35 and 36 acting through the spring plate 52, maintains thefollower member 38 in locking engagement with the wedge block 18 and thelocking member 39, and through the medium of the follower member 38maintains locking member 39 in position to lock the key members againstaccidental movement transversely of the webs of the wedge block. Fromthe foregoing description it will be understood that the locking keymembers, by reason of their engagement with the casing, limit forwardmovement of the wedge block relative to the casing, and at the sametime, permit rearward movement of the wedge block relative to the casingor forward movement of the casing relative to the wedge block.

It will be noted that in my improved friction shock absorbing mechanismthere are no through slots in the walls of the casing for the receptionof the locking key members, so that the strength of the casing, towithstand the forces due to the expansion of the friction mechanism, isnot impaired. I

Should it be desired to disassemble the shock absorbing mechanism, themechanism is first compressed and the springs held compressed bytemporary pins in the manner hereinbefore described in connection withthe assembling of the mechanism, and while the springs are heldcompressed, the plates 11 and 12, and wedge block 20 are removed, afterwhich the wedge block 18 is moved outwardly until the key members 26 and27, which are mounted in the wedge block, are out of the plane of thespaced lugs 42 of the locking members, when lateral pressure, inopposite directions, exerted manually on the inner ends of the memberswill cause the mem bers to move out of alignment a sufficient distancethat they may be moved inwardly, past each other and when so moved, theouter ends thereof are retracted from the positions in which they areadapted to lock with the casing.

With the locking members thus retracted the wedge block 18 can beremoved'from the casing.

After the wedge block 18 is removed the temporary pins may be removedfrom the casing so that all of the other parts of the mechanism may beeasily removed.

In Fig. 6 a modification of my invention is i1- lustrated in whichlocking key members 55 and 56 are provided, which correspond with thekey members 26 and 27, and which haveinclined faces 57 and 58 on theinwardly extending lugs formed movementnof the key membersout of,alignment.

In this modification, lugs 61 and 62, projecting inwardly from theflanges 22 and 23, are adapted to prevent vertical movement of thelocking member 59 relative to the wedge block 18.

In Fig. 7 a further modification of my invention is illustrated in whicha locking member 63 is provided having a. central lug 64 against whichthe inner ends of the key members abut. This locking member is providedwith top and bottom walls 65 and side Walls 66, the side wallsoverlapping the sides of the inwardly extending lugs, formed on the keymembers, adjacent their inner ends, to prevent the key members fromaccidentally moving out of alignment. In this modification the wedgeblock may be identical with the wedge block illustrated in Fig. 6 sothat vertical movement of the locking member is prevented by the lugs 61and 62. The top and bottom flanges of the locking member are inengagement with the lugs on the key members, and since the lockingmember is maintained against vertical movement, the top and bottomflanges thereof will prevent movement of the key members in thedirections of their lengths toward the casing.

In connection with the modifications illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 itwill be understood that the locking key members are applied and removedin the same manner as described in connection with the preferred form ofmy invention.

While several illustrative embodiments of the invention have beendescribed in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to theseembodiments or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a shock absorbing mechanism, thecombination with a casing, ofshock absorbing means in said casing, a plunger mounted in the endportion of said casing and normally subject to the pressure of saidshock absorbing means and operative to transmit shocks delivered theretoto said shock absorbing means, a transversely divided key movable intoand out of locking engagement with said plunger and casing, and meansoverlapping the sides of said key for maintaining the parts of said keyin looking position.

2. In a shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a casing, ofshock absorbing means in said casing, a plunger mounted in the endportion of said casing and normally subject to the pressure of saidshock absorbing means and operative to transmit shocks delivered theretoto said shock absorbing means, and means mounted in said plunger andengaging said casing for limiting relative movement between said plungerand casing, said means comprising two key 1 members the outer ends ofwhich engage the casing and the inner ends of which abut and engageshoulders on the plunger for preventing their longitudinal movement. I

3. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and engagingsaid casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having apressure creating wedge portion, flanges extending rearwardly of thewedge portion, and spaced webs connecting said flanges, and means formaintaining said wedge block assembled with the casing, said meanscomprising a pair of key members mounted in said wedge block in thespace between said webs and having outer end'portions exing wedgetending through said flanges into positions to engage said casing andhaving inner end portions cooperating with each other and with one ofsaid webs for maintaining said key members against unintentionalmovement in the directions of their lengths.

4'. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and engagingsaid casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having apressure creating wedge portion, flanges extending rearwardly of thewedge portion, spaced webs connecting said flanges and spacedstopshoulders on one of said webs, and means for maintaining said wedgeblock assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of keymembers mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs andhaving outer end portions extending through said flanges into positionsto engage said casing and having inner end portions adapted to engageeach other and said stop shoulders for maintaining the outer ends of thekey members in' positions to engage the casing.

5. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and engagingsaid casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge block having apressure creating wedge portion, flanges extending rearwardly of thewedge portion, spaced webs connecting said flanges and spaced stopshoulders on one of said webs, and means for maintaining said wedgeblock assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of keymembers mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs andhavingouter end portions extending through said flanges into positionsto engage said casing and lugs on said members extending rearwardly intoengagement with said stop shoulders for 1 15 limiting the movement ofsaid key members in directions toward the casing.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with acasing, of a spring resisted wedging mechanism mounted in and 1 20engaging said casing, said wedging mechanism including a wedge blockhaving a pressure creatportion, flanges extending rearwardly of thewedge portion, spaced webs connecting said flanges and spaced stopshoulders on one of said webs, and means for maintaining said wedgeblock assembled with the casing, said means comprising a pair of keymembers mounted in said wedge block in the space between said webs andhaving outer end portions extending through said flanges into positionsto engage said casing and lugs on said members extending rearwardly intoengagement with said stop shoulders for limiting the movement of saidkey members in directions toward the casing, the inner 13 5 ends of saidlocking members being adapted to engage with each other to preventmovement of the members in opposite directions.

7. In a friction shock-absorbing mechanism, in combination, a casinghaving an open end and 140 inwardly facing shoulders adjacent thereto,spring resisted friction mechanism housed within the casing andincluding a thrust element having transverse laterally open keyways, apair of aligned keys seated in the waysand projecting 5 beyond thethrust element to engage the casing. shoulders, and a spring advancedbifurcated element laterally overlapping the key elements for holdingthem within the ways.

.8. A shock absorbing mechanism comprising a casing having inwardlyfacing shoulders, cooperating wedge, friction and spring elements housedwithin the casing and including a central thrust element having achambered body,

5 a pair of spaced flanges crossing the chamber and. lying in a commonplane, the walls of the chamber being apertured. between the flanges,

